Means for adjusting and locking door-knobs on spindles.



0Q 0. NOAGK. MEANS FOR ADJUSTING AND LOOKING DOOR KNOBS 0N SPINDLES.APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1908.

951,886. Patented Mar. 15,1910.

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CARL O. NOACK, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

MEANS FOR ADJUSTING AND LOCKING DOOR-KNOBS ON SPINDLES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL O. NOACKLB.

citizen of the United States, residing in Stamford, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new anduseful Means for Adjusting and Looking Door-Knobs on Spindles, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention is a device for adjusting a door knob, and consists ofmeans whereby one of the knobs may be adjusted relatively to the otheron a knob spindle.

The means heretofore most commonly, although not exclusively employedfor accomplishing this purpose consists in providing one end portion ofthe spindle with a series of threaded holes into which takes a screwcarried by the shank of the knob. This form of adjustment is open toseveral objections, among which may be mentioned, first, the screw has atendency to work loose in the threaded hole, thereby causing the knob towabble and work loose; second, it does not permit of a nice or accurateadjustment of the knob with reference to the lock or door, the threadedholes being spaced a comparatively great distance apart, therebyfrequently necessitating the employment of washers in order to secure asnug fit of the knob with reference to the lock or door, and, third, theexpense of drilling and tapping the threaded holes in the spindleamounts to a very considerable item.

The present invention overcomes the foregoing objections, among others,and possesses the advantages of simplicity and durability inconstruction, efficiency in operation, and economy in manufacture.

To the accomplishment of these ends, I employ a binding screw having acup-shaped inner end, the same presenting a circular thin edge adaptedto engage with at least two of a series of screw threads or notchesformed on an edge of a knob spindle, said screw being supported in athreaded hole provided in the shank of a knob. The particular form ofscrew, characterized by the cup shaped inner end, has been found tosecure the best results in practice, for the reason that the thin edgewedges itself in place at two points between the threads or notches ofthe spindle, so that the screw does not work loose in the knob, therebyobviating one of the common defects in ordinary door knobs.

In the accompanying drawings I have Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 19, 1908.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910. Serial No. 453,738.

I illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, wherein IFigure l is a side elevation, with one knob in section, illustrating myinvention. Fig. 2 is a. cross section on an enlarged scale, the plane ofsection being indicated by the dotted line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section, on the line 33 of Fig. 2, a part of the spindlebeing shown in elevation.

In Fig. l a knob spindle, A, and two knobs, B, G, are shown, one knob,B, being secured in a fixed position and by any usual means on saidspindle, while the other knob, C, is adjustable lengthwise of saidspindle. As shown, spindle, A, is substantially square in cross section,although other forms of spindles may be used, that is, spindles ofpolygonal, rectangular, triangular or circular cross sections can beemployed.

An essential feature is a series of notches, a, in spindle, A. When aspindle with flat sides is used, such as the rectangular spindle shown,a plurality of series of notches, a, are provided, preferably on saidspindle, each series of notches being produced in one of the angles orcorners of said spindle.

The adjustable knob, C, is, preferably, hollow, see Fig. 1, in order toreceive an end portion of spindle, A, and said knob is provided with ahollow shank or sleeve, C, the opening, 0, in which corresponds in crosssection to spindle, A, whereby knob, C, is precluded from rotating onsaid spindle and at the same time said knob may be adjusted lengthwiseon said spindle to occupy a desired position thereon.

A clamping member, D, is carried by knob, C, said member being adaptedfor interlocking engagement with a notch, a, or with a plurality of suchnotches, a, on one corner of spindle, A. The clamping member D is ascrew which is threaded into an aperture, 6, tapped in knob, C, so thatits nick, (Z, is exposed for access, whereby the screw, D, may berotated by the operation of a screw driver, or other implement. Screw,D, is shown as having a tapering inner end, d, and, preferably, saidscrew is provided with a recess, in said inner end, see Fig. 3. Thisconstruction enables screw or clamping member, D, to engage with aplurality of notches, a, in one corner of spindle, A, for the purpose oflocking knob, C, securely in a fixed position on said spindle.

In the manufacture of a spindle, a piece of metal. of the required formand size is produced, and a screw thread is cut thereon for a suitablelength, said thread being formed on the angles or corners of the spindle, while the faces thereof are left in a smooth condition, wherebynotches, a, are provided in each of the several corners, the spindlebeing thus economically manufactured.

Ordinarily the screw receiving opening in knob shank, C, is providedtherein at a point to open through one of the flat sides of the squarespindle opening, but according to the present invention the opening, a,is drilled in knob shank, C, to extend through an angle or corner of thespindle opening, (r, in said knob shank, whereby member or screw, D, isadapted for engagement with one of the notched corners of spindle, A.

The operation of the device will be manifest from the foregoingdescription, but it may be referred to briefly as follows zlhe spindleis inserted through the lock and door, shank, C, of knob, C, is slippedover the notched end portion of said spindle until it is snugly fittedto the lock or door, and member or screw, D, is turned by a screw driveruntil its tapered end, (Z, is interlocked with a plurality of notches,a, in said spindle, thereby securing knob, C, firmly on spindle, A.

The new device possesses many practical advantages as compared with theordinary well known knob. Knob C, may be adjusted easily and quickly toany desired position on the notched part of spindle, A, and screw, D,thereafter tightened so as to interlock it with said spindle, theseoperations being performed without requiring the care and time necessaryordinarily to bring the screw hole of the knob into register with one ofthe tapped screw holes in the spindle. Furthermore, my device whollyobviates the use of washers which must frequently be used in securing asnug fit of the knob to the lock, for the reason that notches, a, ofeach series are provided close together in one corner or angle of thespindle, so that the screw, D, can be interlocked with the notchedspindle practically at any point of adjustment of knob, C, thereon. Theseries of notches on each corner or angle of spindle, A, is advantageousbecause said spindle can be inserted in any position in the lock, andknob, C, can be applied in any position on the notched part of spindle,whereupon screw, D, can be tightened, these operations precluding thecare usually required to bring the screw hole of the ordinary knob intoregistration with one of the screw holes of the usual spindle. Again,the use of a clamping member or screw constructed for cooperation with aplurality of notches provides for a wedging engagementof said member orscrew with a notched spindle, thus precluding, practically, the risk ofthe screw working loose, and the knob from becoming detached, therebyobviating one of the most annoying objections to the ordinary door knob.In my new device, the tapering end of the screw is adapted to be wedgedinto engagement with the walls of the notches, or the sides of thethreads, in spindle, A, thus obviating the possibility of injury to, ormutilation of, the notches or threads.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a spindle provided with aplurality of recesses and shoulders, a knob, and a retaining screwthreaded into the shank of said knob, said screw being provided at itsi11- ner end with a central recess, thereby forming a thin circular edgeon said end which is adapted to enter directly into wedged frictionalengagement with a plurality of the shoulders and notches on saidspindle, whereby the knob is held against longitudinal movement 011 thespindle and the screw is precluded from working loose in the knob.

2. In a device of the class described, a spindle provided with notchesand beveled shoulders constituting sections of a screw thread, a knob,and a screw having a cupped end whereby there is formed a thin taperingcircular edge, the cross sectional taper of said circular edgecorresponding substantially to the bevel on the shoulders of saidspindle, said screw being mounted in the shank of said knob and thetapered circular edge at the inner end of said screw being wedged intofrictional engagement with a plurality of said beveled shoulders.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL O. NOACK.

lVitnesses H. I. BERNHARD, MARGARET C. POWELL.

